County OKs park upgrades

Officials also consider panhandling law

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Coal Mountain Park will see more than $86,000 in improvements approved by the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners at a Jan. 24 work session.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Doug Rainwater tells the Board of Commissioners at a Jan. 24 work session that state laws already address county panhandling.

According to a plan submitted by developers CHA Consulting, additional parking areas will be added; and existing parking lots and roads will be stripped and resurfaced.

The commission approved the

$86,178 improvements 4-0. Commissioner Alfred John was absent.

Plans call for a connector road to come through the western boundary of the park. The project is scheduled to be completed January 2024.

“The park is getting ready to be the hub of a new urban high density planned community district,” reads the plan. “The intent of this project is to make key improvements to the park as well as incorporate the park into its new future urban setting.”

See FORSYTH, Page 5

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — Less than a week before Christmas, Heather Quiggle was shot six times by an ex-boyfriend while she slept in her Johns Creek home on Plantation Bridge Drive. She and her boyfriend, who was shot three times, survived the attack. Her son fled the house unharmed.

Quiggle’s coworker at Keller Williams Realty, Allison Cutler, said she made it her priority to keep Quiggle’s life moving while she was in the hospital.

Cutler said Quiggle, a Realtor, had offers on a home listing, and when she and coworker Andrea Wright went to Quiggle’s house after the shooting, there was still food on the stove.

“Your life just stops,” Cutler said. “You can just imagine, like, if you go to bed tonight, and you don't wake up the next morning and people have to come into your house, that's what it looks like.”

See QUIGGLE, Page 5

OPINION

Tasos: Bull riding offers greatest show on dirt

► PAGE 17

NEWS TIPS

Contact reporters directly or send story ideas to newsroom@appenmedia.com.

LETTERS, EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Send your letters, events and community news to newsroom@appenmedia.com. See appenmedia.com/submit for more guidance.

ADVERTISING

For information about advertising in the Forsyth Herald or other Appen Media properties, email advertising@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

CIRCULATION

To start, pause or stop delivery of this newspaper, email circulation@appenmedia.com or call 770-442-3278.

Police Blotter

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Couple face theft charges in shoplifting incidents

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two suspects in connection with a series of thefts at the Walmart on Browns Bridge Road in late December.

Delveccho Waller, 24, of Gainesville, and Alexis Aldaco, 22, of Lula, face felony charges for stealing nearly $3,000 in merchandise from the store on Dec. 19, 27, 29 and 31.

A third suspect, a 22-year-old Hoschton woman, is also being sought as an accomplice in the thefts.

A loss prevention employee for the store told deputies Jan. 1 that Aldaco, Waller and the third suspect shoplifted items totaling $2,744.63. Items stolen included food, children’s toys, alcohol and speakers.

The employee said the suspects never purchased anything but would steal merchandise or “get scared and leave.” The employee provided deputies with a Georgia tag number registered to Aldaco.

Security footage of each incident was placed in evidence.

Law enforcement arrested Waller Jan. 18 and Aldaco Jan. 19.

Deputies arrest stepson in firearms theft incident

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man Jan. 20 for allegedly stealing three firearms and several boxes of ammunition from his stepfather’s garage.

A man called law enforcement Jan. 13 reporting that when he arrived at his home on Royston Way in Cumming, he saw his stepson, Jeremie Wade, 45, putting items in his car, then driving away. The man noticed his $300 heater was damaged, and there were screws, nuts and bolts on the ground.

Wade is alleged to have stolen three firearms, boxes of ammunition, firearm supplies and a plate carrier from a room in his stepfather’s garage. Wade’s sister told deputies he has PTSD and has abused his medication. She said Wade had sent her illogical text messages earlier that day.

Deputies located Wade near Regions Bank. He was taken into custody and transported to Northside Forsyth Hospital.

The firearms were returned to the stepfather.

Traffic stop uncovers stolen firearm in car

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Forsyth County deputies arrested a man for possession of marijuana and a stolen firearm during a traffic stop for speeding on Ga. 400 Jan. 21.

Brandon Wilson, 38, of Snellville, was clocked at almost 20 miles over the speed limit when he was pulled over. According to the sheriff’s report, Wilson hesitated but finally stopped on northbound Ga. 400 at Majors Road.

The reporting deputy noticed a strong odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle. Wilson confirmed there was marijuana in his child’s car seat, and he said a registered firearm was in the vehicle as well.

Wilson said the 9mm handgun belonged to his girlfriend, and they purchased it from a man.

Forsyth dispatch informed the officer the firearm had been reported stolen from a Bass Pro Shop in Macon. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed the weapon as stolen.

The firearm was taken into custody, and Wilson was transported to the Forsyth County Jail.

Deputies arrest suspect in Hindu temple theft

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Deputies arrested a 34-year-old man Jan. 18 for the burglary of a Hindu temple in Cumming last year.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies responded April 17, 2022, to a possible theft at the temple on Shiloh Road. A witness told deputies five individuals entered the temple, and one requested the temple pray for them because they were having “baby issues.”

The witness noticed two of the suspects walking by the door, but he could not see because the male suspect blocked his view.

Another witness told deputies he saw one of the suspects placing the temple safe in a gold MercedesBenz, which then drove off with two suspects inside. A witness said the safe contained between $3,000 and $4,000.

The suspects also stole $10,000 from a backpack belonging to the assistant priest.

Good Samaritan bilked at gas pump

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman told Johns Creek Police Jan. 19 that an man in his 40s, along with a small child, approached her at the QuikTrip on Jones Bridge Road asking for gas.

The woman said she swiped her card at the pump and told him to only take $5. According to the police report, the woman went inside QuikTrip, and when she came out, she discovered the man had charged the card for $52.

The vehicle was a dark colored older van, she said.